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A Land Blessing Format
- A. Prepare ritual materials
1. Head lei and neck lei
2. Bowl of fresh water (sea or salt water is for cleansing).
3. Short ti leaf for sprinkling (or other longish leaf).
4. Four ti plants for planting in four corners of property.
5. Conch shell and nose flute (latter is optional).
6. A long "piko" (navel cord) made of two strands of ti leaves, flowers, ribbon or other material suspended or held at each end and tied loosely in the middle. The piko can be a short as three feet (90 cm).
6. An assistant to carry materials (optional).
- B. Start the ritual in the center of the property or in a location which represents the entire property, such as the entrance. Suspend the piko against the gate, if there is one, or have one person hold each end in front of the entrance
1. Facing east, or facing the land from the entrance, raise hands and say "Aumakua, aloha, mahalo."
2. Blow the conch (or have the assistant do it) toward the four directions.
3. Facing east (or the property) again, raise hands and say "Auhea! E na aumakua, E na akua, E na kupua, auhea!"
4. Untie the piko, let the middle fall, and say "Oki ka piko! Hanau 'o ke kuleana 'aina!" "The navel cord is cut! "The property is born!" Remove the pieces of the piko. If there is a gate, open it now.
5. Make a statement/prayer/blessing in English that represents the purpose of this land blessing.
a) An appropriate chant, quote or poem would do well.
b) A Hawaiian one could be:
"Auhea! Na aumakua, na akua, na kupua, auhea!"
"E ho'omaika'i i keia 'aina, ame i na mea e noho ma keia home.
Hale Maluhia ka inoa o keia home."
"Bless this land and those who will make this their home
The name of this home is Hale Maluhia/House of Tranqulity."
c) If a Christian orientation is appropriate, use the following excerpt from the 96th Psalm:
"Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice,
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it,
Let the field exult and everything in it."
Praise the love and power of God the Creator of this land and all that is.
6. Walk to the first corner. Take the bowl of water and the ti leaf. Breath on the water four times and sprinkle some water in the hole in the ground with the leaf, saying "E ho'omaika'i i keia 'aina me ke aloha, me ka mana, me ka pono" "May this land be blessed with peace, power and prosperity."
a) Present the plant to the four directions and plant it. Play a song of love and praise to it with the flute and/or tell it softly to take care of the land. Do a closing gesture.
b) Repeat B6 and B6a at each corner and return to the starting place.
7. Facing the center of the property, sprinkle water on it or toward it with the leaf and say "Ua pomaika'i keia 'aina" "This land has been blessed."
8. Pour the rest of the water on the ground, and say "Amama, ua noa" and do a closing gesture.
NOTE: If the piece of land is too large or the time is too short to walk to each corner, stay in the center and lay a long ti leaf or rod toward each corner while following the format in 5 above.
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